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The Best Ways to Fly to Argentina With Points and Miles

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Michael McHugh
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Michael McHugh

Former Content Contributor

63 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 15U.S. States Visited: 32

Michael fell in love with points and miles back in 2014 and since then has built up a vast knowledge of award programs and has striven to show readers how to receive the maximum value when using their...
Edited by: Kellie Jez
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Kellie Jez

Director of Operations & Compliance

1 Published Article 1166 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 10U.S. States Visited: 20

Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...

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The Andes Mountains, tango dancing, Mendoza wine country, and Patagonia are just a few of the many things that you can explore on your trip to Argentina. With so much to offer, you may be wondering how best to use miles and points to get there from the U.S.

Argentina is served by 1 major airport in Buenos Aires (EZE). There are several large airports nearby in Santiago (SCL), São Paulo (GRU), Rio de Janeiro (GIG), and Lima (LIM), which would be easy places to connect through en route from the U.S.

Best Programs to Use to Book Flights

Oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance partner airlines all offer flights between the U.S. and Argentina — great news as this means you have plenty of award flight options. No matter where you live in the U.S., you should be able to fly nonstop or have only 1 connection on your way to this beautiful part of the world.

One important note is that all award pricing shown is round-trip. Outside of ANA and Korean Air, simply halve the number of miles shown in the award chart if you’re looking to book a one-way flight. With that said, let’s evaluate how best to book your next flight to Argentina!

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

LATAM New Business Class
Image Credit: LATAM
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Cabin ClassLATAM Miles Cost (RT)Taxes and Fees
Economy Off-Peak50,000$133+
Economy60,000$133+
Business90,000$133+

The Mileage Plan program is known for many things but a couple of the most notable are the ability to book stopovers and its competitive award charts. Alaska Airlines is not in an airline alliance, meaning that you can use Alaska Airlines airline partners to fly from the U.S. to Argentina for a reasonable number of miles.

Without a doubt, earning Alaska Airlines miles is the most challenging aspect of its loyalty program. However, if you’re able to earn its miles, you’ll be able to unlock a ton of value by booking partner airline flights across the world.

Hot Tip: LATAM award space will not show up on the Alaska Airlines website. We recommend familiarizing yourself with using the British Airways website, the place where you’ll find LATAM award flights. 

For those of you with enough Alaska Airlines miles to book a flight to Argentina, here are a couple of flight options to consider:

  • Miami (MIA) – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 50,000 Alaska miles in LATAM off-peak economy
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Lima (LIM) – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 90,000 Alaska miles in LATAM business class

When you’re ready to book an award flight, the steps below will help you with the process:

  1. Search for flights on British Airways and Qantas.
  2. Call Alaska Airlines at 800-252-7522 to confirm award availability.
  3. Book the flight over the phone.
  4. Pay the taxes and fees, including the $12.50 partner airline award fee.

Earning Alaska Airlines Miles

Earning Alaska Airlines miles is notoriously challenging for 2 main reasons. The first reason is that the airline only has 1 transferable point program partnership, and that’s with Marriott Bonvoy. The second reason is because co-branded Alaska Airlines credit cards don’t offer big welcome offers.

Travelers looking to transfer Marriott points to Alaska Airlines should note the transfer takes 4 days at a 3:1 ratio. You’ll also receive a 5,000-mile bonus with every 60,000 Marriott points that you transfer to Alaska Airlines.

We cover the large number of Marriott credit cards available in our detailed guide.

Bottom Line: Alaska Airlines award pricing for economy and business class flights to South America sits comfortably in the middle of this list. 

ANA Mileage Club

United Polaris Boeing 767-300
Traveling in business class is one of the best ways to maximize your frequent flyer awards. Image Credit: Victoria M. Walker
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Cabin ClassStar Alliance Miles CostTaxes and Fees
Economy55,000$103+
Business88,000$103+

Known for its premium onboard experience and premium cabins, ANA and the Mileage Club program is our first Star Alliance program. ANA uses region-based charts that not only provide solid award prices when booking its own flights, but also on partner flights to South America.

If your goal is flexibility in your award booking, other Star Alliance programs like Aeroplan, Avianca, or United are what you should focus on. ANA doesn’t allow you to book one-way partner airline flights so keep this in mind as you start your award search.

Hot Tip: ANA offers middle-of-the-road award pricing options for economy and business class flights to South America. Of the 2, business class is the more competitive award flight option. 

When your account is flush with ANA miles, here are a couple of flights to consider booking:

  • Newark (EWR) – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 88,000 ANA miles in United business class
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Panama City (PTY) – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 55,000 ANA miles in COPA economy

The booking process with ANA is straightforward. Here are the steps required to book a flight:

  1. Search for flights on United.
  2. Confirm the same availability on ANA.
  3. Book the flight online.
  4. Pay the taxes and fees.

Earning ANA Miles

ANA has partnerships with American Express and Marriott Bonvoy making it relatively easy to earn ANA Mileage Club miles. Points earned in these programs can be transferred directly to ANA. Unfortunately, ANA doesn’t offer a co-branded credit card for the U.S. market so American Express and Marriott point transfers will help you to earn miles the quickest.

Point transfer times and ratios are different so it’s important to know that American Express point transfers take 2-3 days at a 1:1 ratio and Marriott point transfers take 7 days at a 3:1 ratio. We recommend starting with American Express by applying for these Amex credit cards:

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS
The Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card® from American Express

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points
$1,760
$695
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros

  • The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
  • 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
  • 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
  • Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
  • TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
  • Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
  • Access to Amex International Airline Program
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

  • $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
  • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
  • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
  • $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
  • Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

BEST FOR DINING
American Express® Gold CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express® Gold Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

American Express® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
60,000 points
$1,320
$250
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The American Express® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros

  • 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
  • 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
  • Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
  • Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
  • No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
  • Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
  • Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
  • Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
  • Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $250.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

Business owner? See our list of the best Amex business credit cards.

Bottom Line: ANA doesn’t offer the lowest award pricing to South America, however, it’s easy to book award flights using ANA miles by transferring points from American Express. 

Asiana Airlines Asiana Club

Avianca Boeing 787 Business Class small rear cabin middle
Use Asiana miles to fly Avianca business class to Argentina. Image Credit: Daniel Ross
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Cabin ClassStar Alliance Miles Cost (RT)Taxes and Fees
Economy50,000$133+
Business70,000$133+

The Asiana Airlines Asiana Club program is our second Star Alliance airline partner. Its award program is known for having some of the lowest prices for award flights around the world, including flights to South America.

Before we dive into this redemption, it’s important to note that Asiana Airlines partner award flights can’t be searched on its website. This means that a phone call is required to book a partner award flight.

Hot Tip: United is the best website to use for Star Alliance award flights. Familiarize yourself with how to use its search functions and you’ll make the award booking process easier. 

The great news about using a Star Alliance airline partner is the fact that you have plenty of flight options including these:

  • Chicago (ORD) – Newark (EWR) – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 50,000 Asiana miles in United Airlines economy
  • Washington (IAD) – Bogotá (BOG) – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 70,000 Asiana miles in Avianca business class

As previously mentioned, a phone call is required to book an award flight so keep that in mind as you follow these steps:

  1. Search for Star Alliance partner flights on United.
  2. Call Asiana Airlines at 800-227-4262 between 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. PST on Monday-Friday.
  3. Book the flight over the phone.
  4. Pay the taxes and fees.

Earning Asiana Airlines Miles

Earning Asiana Airlines miles is notoriously difficult as Asiana only has 1 partnership with a transferable point program in Marriott Bonvoy. Asiana Airlines does offer a credit card for the U.S. market so a combination of earning Marriott points and putting your spend on Asiana credit cards will help you to earn the miles that you need.

Point transfers from Marriott to Asiana Airlines take 4 days at a 3:1 ratio. Separately, you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus with every 60,000 Marriott points that you transfer. Keep both of these things in mind before transferring any of your points.

Bottom Line: Asiana Airlines offers the lowest award price for business class flights to South America. Economy pricing isn’t as competitive as business class, however, you’ll likely still receive respectable value. 

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

American Airlines 787-9 Flagship Business Class rear cabin view
American Airlines 787-9 Flagship Business Class rear cabin view. Image Credit: Stephen Au
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Cabin ClassOneworld Airlines Cost (RT)Taxes and Fees
Economy54,000+$133+
Business100,000+$133+
First150,000+$133+

The first Oneworld airline partner to make our list is Cathay Pacific. The airline is best known for the ability to book British Airways flights with reduced fuel surcharges. What you may have not considered is using Asia Miles to book a flight to Argentina.

A notable downside with this redemption is that American Airlines and LATAM award flights require a phone call to book.

Hot Tip: Use the Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Standard Award and add 5,000 miles to the cost of the award flight shown in your zone if you’re flying 1 Oneworld airline partner. 

Examples of award flights that you can book with Cathay Pacific Asia Miles include:

  • Miami (MIA) – Buenos Aires (EZE) or 54,000 Cathay Pacific miles in American Airlines economy
  • Miami (MIA) – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 100,000 Cathay Pacific miles in LATAM business class

The award booking process is made easier by using these steps:

  1. Search for American flights on American; LATAM flights on British Airways/Qantas.
  2. Call Cathay Pacific at 866-892-2598 to confirm award availability.
  3. Book the flight over the phone.
  4. Pay the taxes and fees.

Earning Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Earning Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is easy because the airline has partnerships with American Express, Capital One, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy. Cathay Pacific also offers a co-branded credit card for the U.S. market. A combination of transferable points and spend on the Cathay Pacific credit card will ensure you have a constant stream of Asia Miles at your disposal.

For those of you with American Express, Capital One, Citi, and/or Marriott points, the transfer times and ratios are as follows:

  • American Express points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio
  • Capital One Miles transfers take 3 days at a 1:1 ratio
  • Citi point transfers take 24 hours at a 1:1 ratio, and
  • Marriott point transfers take 5 days at a 3:1 ratio.

With that said, we recommend checking out these Capital One credit cards:

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$395
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-840)

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros

  • 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
  • Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • 10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
  • Add authorized users for no additional annual fee (rates & fees)
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

 

Cons

  • $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
  • Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

 

  • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$95
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros

  • 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
  • Access to Capital One transfer partners

Cons

  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Capital One Miles

Bottom Line: Cathay Pacific economy and business class award pricing is at the bottom of the pack in this list. Consider using other Oneworld award programs to get even more value. 

Etihad Guest

American Airlines A321T Flagship Business seats 6A and 6C
Use Etihad miles to fly American Airlines to Argentina. Image Credit: Daniel Ross
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Cabin ClassAmerican Airlines Cost (RT) Taxes and Fees
Economy Off-Peak40,000$133+
Economy60,000$133+
Business100,000$133+
First125,000$133+

Another airline outside of a major airline alliance is Etihad. Like Alaska Airlines, Etihad has partnerships with individuals airlines. This works in our favor as you can fly American Airlines at competitive award prices to Argentina.

One main downside when using Etihad miles to book partner airline flights is that a phone call is required to book the flight. Thankfully, the Etihad agents are competent, making it relatively easy to book the flight that you need.

Hot Tip: British Airways and Qantas will be the 2 best websites to use to search for American Airlines award flights. 

American Airlines flies several routes to Argentina including:

  • New York (JFK) – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 40,000 Etihad miles in American Airlines economy
  • Dallas (DFW) – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 100,000 Etihad miles in American Airlines business class

When you’re ready to book a flight, the following steps will help with the booking process:

  1. Search for American Airlines flights on British Airways and Qantas.
  2. Call Etihad at 877-690-0767 to confirm award availability.
  3. Book the flight over the phone.
  4. Pay the taxes and fees.

Earning Etihad Guest Miles

You’ll have no issue earning Etihad Guest miles because the airline has partnerships with American Express, Capital One, Citi Points, and Etihad. The points you earn in these programs can be transferred directly to Etihad.

The transfer ratios and transfer times are different across the programs so keep these guidelines in mind: American Express points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio, Capital One Miles transfers take 24 hours at a 1:1 ratio, Citi transfers take 7 days at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott point transfers take 3 days at a 1:1 ratio. With every 60,000 Marriott points that you transfer, you’ll receive 5,000 bonus miles.

Bottom Line: Using Etihad miles to fly American Airlines economy is the cheapest way to book an economy flight from the U.S. to Argentina. 

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

Perito Moreno Glacier Los Glaciares National Park Argentina
Use Japan Airlines miles to fly American Airlines to Argentina. Image Credit: Hansjuerge via unsplash.com
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Cabin Class Oneworld Miles Cost (RT)Taxes and Fees
Economy50,000+$133+
Business85,000+$133+
First110,000+$133+

Our second Oneworld airline partner program is Japan Airlines Mileage Bank. Japan Airlines routinely has the lowest prices for Oneworld flights, and for flights to Argentina, it’s no different.

Like many award programs in this list, one of the primary downsides to Japan Airlines is that its miles are hard to earn. However, if you’re able to amass these miles, you can book a ton of extremely competitive award flights.

Hot Tip: Japan Airlines uses a distance-based award chart but the value you’ll get from your miles actually increases the further you travel. For example, flying 5,000 miles doesn’t cost exactly double the miles of flying 2,500 miles!

Examples of flights to Argentina that you can book with Japan Airlines miles include:

  • Miami (MIA) – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 85,000 Japan Airlines miles in LATAM business class
  • Miami (MIA)  – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 110,000 Japan Airlines miles in American Airlines first class

The process to book award flights with Japan Airlines is easy using these steps:

  1. Search for American Airlines flights on British Airways and Qantas.
  2. Confirm the same availability on Japan Airlines.
  3. Book the flight online.
  4. Pay the taxes and fees.

Earning Japan Airlines Miles

Earning Mileage Bank miles is challenging for the simple fact that there are not many ways to earn them. Marriott is the only transferable program partner and the Japan Airlines co-branded credit card isn’t one worth considering due to the lack of a welcome offer.

For those of you with Marriott points that you’re looking to transfer, the point transfers to Japan Airlines take 2 days at a 3:1 ratio. With every 60,000 points that you transfer, you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus.

Bottom Line: Japan Airlines offers the fewest number of miles to fly to South America in first class. Using Etihad miles to fly American Airlines first class would also be a great option.  

Korean Air SKYPASS

Delta One Suites A350-900 seat 8B
Use Korean Air miles to fly Delta One. Image Credit: Stephen Au
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Cabin ClassSkyTeam Alliance Airlines Cost (RT)Taxes and Fees
Economy50,000$133+
Business110,000$133+

The lone SkyTeam program to make our list is Korean Air SKYPASS. The airline is primarily known for its premium cabin experience as well as competitive award charts on partner airline flights. For Argentina, Korean Air is a great option for those who want to fly SkyTeam.

Korean Air’s website is one of the many downsides to using Korean Air miles. We recommend finding award space elsewhere, and either confirming the same availability on Korean Air or calling the airline to book an award flight.

Hot Tip: Korean Air will pass on fuel surcharges, however, the fuel surcharges on Delta flights to Argentina are mild compared to what you may see when flying Delta to Europe. 

SkyTeam offers a few different flight options to Argentina including:

  • New York (JFK) – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 50,000 SKYPASS miles in Aerolineas Argentinas economy
  • Atlanta (ATL) – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 110,000 Delta business class

The booking process using Korean Air SKYPASS miles is as follows:

  1. Search for saver level SkyTeam flights on Air France, Delta, and/or KLM.
  2. Confirm the same award availability on Korean Air or call Korean Air at 800-438-5000 to confirm availability.
  3. Book the flight online or over the phone.
  4. Pay the taxes and fees.

Earning Korean Air SKYPASS Miles

It can be difficult to earn Korean Air SKYPASS miles because the airline only has 1 partnership with Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott point transfers take 48 hours at a 3:1 ratio.

Korean Air also offers a co-branded credit card for the U.S. market and the spend you put on this card directly earns Korean Air miles.

Bottom Line: We recommend checking the award prices on Air France, Delta, and KLM. Each award program uses dynamic award pricing instead of award charts. This means the award price will be tied to the cash cost of the flight.  

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

United Polaris 787-10 rear cabin view 1
Using KrisFlyer miles to fly United to Argentina. Image Credit: Stephen Au
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Cabin ClassStar Alliance Airlines Cost (RT)Taxes and Fees
Economy66,000$133+
Business130,000$133+

A Star Alliance member that may surprise you to be on this list is Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program. The airline is best known for using its own miles to fly Singapore Airlines first and business class flights around the world.

The challenge you may find with Singapore Airlines is that not all destinations can be searched on its website. If that happens to you, you’ll need to call Singapore Airlines to book the partner award flight.

Hot Tip: The only way to book Singapore Airlines first and business class is with Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles. 

You have plenty of flight routes to Argentina on Star Alliance partners including:

  • Washington (IAD) – Newark (EWR) – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 66,000 KrisFlyer miles in United Airlines economy
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Houston (IAH) – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 130,000 KrisFlyer miles in United Airlines business class

The booking process for booking award flights with Singapore Airlines miles is as follows:

  1. Search for Star Alliance flights on United.
  2. Confirm the same award availability on Singapore Airlines.
  3. Call Singapore Airlines 800-742-3333 if your city isn’t searchable on Singapore Airlines.
  4. Book the flight online or over the phone.
  5. Pay the taxes and fees.

Earning Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles

American Express, Chase, Capital One, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy have partnerships with Singapore Airlines making it easy to earn Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles. The points that you earn in each of these programs can be transferred directly to Singapore Airlines to book an award flight.

Transfer times and ratios across these programs are different so use these guidelines before transferring any points: American Express point transfers take 2 days at a 1:1 ratio, Chase, Citi, and Capital One point transfers take 24 hours at a 1:1 ratio and Marriott point transfers take 2 days at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus with every 60,000 point transfer.

Bottom Line: For Star Alliance award flight redemptions, Singapore Airlines award pricing will be at or near the bottom for economy and business class flights. 

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta One Suites A350-900
Delta One Suites A350-900. Image Credit: Stephen Au
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Cabin ClassDelta Cost (RT)Taxes and Fees
Economy45,000$133+
Business90,000$133+

Another airline not in a major airline alliance is Virgin Atlantic. Like Alaska Airlines and Etihad, Virgin Atlantic has partnerships with individual airlines. Delta is one of the most well-known of its airline partners because of the competitive award prices offered when flying Delta, especially to Argentina.

An important downside to note with Virgin Atlantic is that not all destinations can be searched on its website. If the city you are flying to/from doesn’t appear on the website, you’ll need to call Virgin Atlantic to book the award flight.

Hot Tip: You’ll want to book nonstop Delta award flights because connections require you to pay additional Virgin Points. 

Examples of Delta flights to both Argentina and South America include:

  • Atlanta (ATL) – Buenos Aires (EZE) for 45,000 Virgin Points in Delta economy
  • Atlanta (ATL) – Santiago (SCL) for 90,000 Virgin Points in Delta business class

For the Atlanta to Santiago route, you’ll need to buy a cash ticket or book an award flight between Santiago (SCL) and Buenos Aires (EZE) as Delta doesn’t fly this route.

This Virgin Atlantic redemption only pertains to Delta flights, so you can’t fly another Virgin partner airline for the same number of Virgin Points shown above. Air Canada, KLM, and LATAM fly between Santiago and Buenos Aires. This gives you a Star Alliance airline (Air Canada), a SkyTeam airline (KLM), and a Oneworld airline (LATAM) option.

Avianca LifeMiles and Singapore KrisFlyer are the cheapest Star Alliance options at 12,500 miles to book a one-way economy flight. British Airways is the cheapest Oneworld option as this program requires 9,000 Avios (miles) to book a one-way economy flight.

For SkyTeam flights, you’ll need to check the Air France, Delta, and KLM sites as each uses dynamic (not fixed) award pricing. Korean Air uses an award chart, however, intra-South America award flight pricing is not shown.

Use the steps below when booking Delta flights:

  1. Search for Delta flights on Virgin Atlantic.
  2. Book the Delta flight online.
  3. Pay the taxes and fees online

For cities not shown on Virgin Atlantic, the steps below will help in the process:

  1. Search for saver level Delta flights on Delta.
  2. Call Virgin Atlantic at 800-365-9500.
  3. Book the flight over the phone.
  4. Pay the taxes and fees over the phone.

Earning Virgin Points

American Express, Chase, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy all partner with Virgin Atlantic so it’s extremely easy to earn Virgin Points. Virgin Atlantic also offers a co-branded credit card for the U.S. market that earns Virgin Points directly with your spend.

With so many transferable point partners, it’s helpful to note these transfer ratios and times: American Express point transfers take 1-2 days at a 1:1 ratio, Chase points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio, Citi point transfers take 2 days a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott point transfers take 1 day at a 3:1 ratio. If you transfer 60,000 Marriott points, you’ll receive a 5,000-point bonus. With that said, check out these Chase credit cards that we recommend:

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

POPULAR FIRST CARD
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 points
$1,200
$95
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros

  • 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
  • 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
  • 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
  • 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
  • 2x points on all other travel worldwide
  • $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
  • 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
  • Excellent travel and car rental insurance
  • 10% annual bonus points
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel.
60,000 points
$1,200
$550
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-850)

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros

  • 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
  • 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
  • 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
  • 5x points on airfare booked through Chase TravelSM
  • 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • Priority Pass airport lounge access
  • TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
  • Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
  • Rental car elite status with National and Avis

Cons

  • $550 annual fee
  • Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Business owner? See our list of the best Chase business cards.

Bottom Line: Virgin Atlantic should be one of the first programs you check out if you need to book a Delta award flight. 

Final Thoughts

Argentina is a country filled with so many things to see and do. It can also be the ideal jumping-off point to seeing other cities and countries in South America. And now with this guide, you’ll know how best to book your next trip using your miles and points.

In summary, earning transferable points from American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy is what we recommend. These points give you the power to decide what makes the most sense for you when booking flights to Argentina.

The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best airline in South America?

South America has 3 airlines that are members in the major airline alliances. LATAM is a Oneworld Alliance member, Avianca is a Star Alliance member, and Aerolíneas Argentinas is a SkyTeam Alliance member.

The best airline is subjective, however, if you’re looking for the best premium cabin experience, consider flying LATAM or Avianca.

Where do you fly into Chile?

Chile has 10 airports throughout the country with 1 major airport in Santiago serving the U.S. with nonstop flights. If you’re looking to fly nonstop from the U.S. to Chile, consider flying into Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL).

What is the best airline to fly to Brazil?

American Airlines, Delta, LATAM, and United fly between the U.S. and the Rio de Janeiro (GIG) and São Paulo (GRU). Each of these airlines should provide a nice experience to Brazil.

For flights to Rio de Janeiro, American flies from Miami (MIA), Delta from Atlanta (ATL), and United from Houston (IAH).

For flights to São Paulo:

  • American flies from Dallas (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), and New York (JFK).
  • Delta flies from Atlanta (ATL) and New York (JFK).
  • LATAM flies from Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Orlando (MCO).
  • United flies from Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), and Washington (IAD).
Michael McHugh's image

About Michael McHugh

Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Michael took his first international trip in 2013 with friends to the Bahamas. Although he didn’t travel much in his younger years, on that trip, he caught the travel bug and has been hooked ever since.

Michael first caught wind of the points and miles game in 2014 while at a bar in Washington, DC where the conversation amongst friends was quickly derailed because of an alert on a friend’s phone about a mistake fare.  That’s where the love affair with points and miles began.

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